For most kids, gymnastics is a pastime. For Maggie Johannsen, it’s been a way of life.
The 18-year-old Hendrick Hudson High School senior has been flipping, twisting, and tumbling since she was just two years old. As one of four sisters and a twin, Johannsen’s introduction to gymnastics came almost by default—her sisters were doing it, so she had to try it too.
It quickly became clear she had a natural gift. “I’ve always been a flipper,” she said. “I would always be upside down when I was younger… It was probably the most fun for me.” Her earliest memories are filled with time spent in open gyms with her sisters, having “so much fun.”
Her competitive journey began in third grade, and by eighth grade, she was already a member of the Somers varsity high school team. Johannsen honed her skills at Gymnastics City in Cortlandt Manor before moving to Dynamic Gymnastics in Mohegan Lake to join their competitive USAG program. “I realized I should make the switch to Dynamic because they had a better program for the level I wanted to compete at,” she recalled.
Since then, Johannsen has been a fixture on the Somers merged gymnastics team, which brings together girls from Somers, Yorktown, Hendrick Hudson, Croton, Ossining, Peekskill, John Jay-Cross River, and Pawling under the guidance of Olympian coach Teodora Cepoi.
“It’s been amazing competing with friends from different schools,” Johannsen said. “Even the girls on other teams—we all know each other through club. It’s just so fun.”
Over the years, she has built a remarkable record. She has competed at the state tournament every year since joining Somers as a 14-year-old middle schooler. Highlights include being named Lohud’s Westchester/Putnam Gymnast of the Year as a freshman, winning two individual Section 1 championships in vault and floor exercise as a sophomore, and helping her team to a second-place finish at the 2024-25 New York State championships—the first Section 1 squad to reach the podium since 2015. She has also contributed to three sectional title-winning Somers squads.
In her senior year, Johannsen placed fourth on the balance beam and sixth on uneven bars at Section 1 championships, helping secure a spot on the Section 1 team for the state championships in Utica. There she finished tied for 14th on the balance beam.
Locally, she has been named All-Section by coaches for the fifth time and included in Lohud’s 2026 Westchester/Putnam All-Star list.
Her gymnastics journey hasn’t been without challenges. After years of six practices a week while balancing club and school commitments, Johannsen suffered a back injury that sidelined her for four months last year, preventing her from training over the summer before her senior season. “It was definitely a weird feeling—from practicing every single night to nothing for months,” she recalled.
Returning to the gym was physically demanding, but Johannsen relied on her supportive gymnastics community and personal perseverance. She emphasizes the importance of team camaraderie.
“I think it’s really important to have a good bond with your team, because although a lot of the competition itself is individual, you want people supporting you, cheering when you do well, and comforting you if you fall. Prioritizing the team is just so important.”
Although she didn’t achieve the same results as in previous years, Johannsen says she was simply happy to make it to states after last year’s setback.
Coach Teodora Cepoi praises Johannsen’s talent and leadership: “She is very dedicated… very good with her teammates, encourages everybody, and supports everybody.”
Johannsen speaks highly of Cepoi as well: “She’s great. We all have a great relationship with her. It’s nice having a coach who understands the struggles in gymnastics—how challenging it can be and demanding on your body.”
Beyond the gym, Johannsen is equally ambitious. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Science Honor Society and participates in Peer Leadership and the Sailor Supporting Sailors club, which focuses on athlete well-being and mental health. Outside of academics and gymnastics, she enjoys boating—her family owns Viking Boat Yard in Verplanck—and spending summers on the water.
Looking ahead, Johannsen plans to attend the University of Tennessee in fall 2026 to study sociology with a focus on criminology and criminal justice, with aspirations of attending law school. Even as gymnastics has dominated her life, she hopes to return to the sport in some capacity, perhaps coaching young athletes.
Coach Cepoi believes she would excel as a mentor. “If she would like to coach, I’m sure she’d be a great coach. She knows a lot about gymnastics and can teach kids the best technique.”
When asked what advice she would give to younger gymnasts, Johannsen emphasizes the joy of the sport: “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Have fun rather than be so tough on yourself… it’s just going to drain you if you’re putting too much pressure on yourself.”
For Johannsen, gymnastics has always been more than a sport. It has shaped her resilience, identity, and outlook on life. From tumbling with her sisters to competing at state championships, she has shown that passion, perseverance, and joy can propel a young athlete from a small-town gym to the national stage, while preparing her for whatever comes next.
